University of Delaware Athletics
Late Goal Lifts Temple Over University of Delaware 2-1 in Field Hockey
9/16/2011 9:57:00 PM | Field Hockey
NEWARK, Del. -- The University of Delaware field hockey squad suffered a tough loss to Temple Friday night at Rullo Stadium as the Owls scored the game-winner with just over three minutes left to play to claim a 2-1 victory over the Blue Hens.
Temple's leading scorer, Bridget Settles, tipped in a pass from Mandi Shearer right in front of the net with just 3:01 left to play to break a 1-1 tie and send the Owls (3-4) to their second straight victory.
Delaware, which tied the game on a rocket shot from Tory Sharpless (above, at left) early in the second half, dropped its second straight game and fell to 3-3. The Hens will look to get back to winning ways Sunday when they host first-time opponent Appalachian State at noon at Rullo Stadium.
The game was an evenly-matched affair all night with both teams taking 11 shots and Temple holding a slim 7-5 advantage in corners. Delaware goalkeeper Noelle Diana posted four saves on the night while her counterpart, Lizzy Millen, stopped six shots for Temple.
Temple, coming off a 4-3 overtime win over Kent State, broke the ice when Settles fed Carissa Young off a penalty corner and Young fired a shot past Diana from the left side just under 25 minutes into the contest.
Delaware, which was held to a single goal for just the second time in six games this season, came back to tie things when Toni Popinko spotted Sharpless to the left side and Sharpless rifled a shot past Millen from 15 yards out for her team-leading fifth goal of the season just two minutes and 21 seconds into the second stanza.
The game appeared to be headed to overtime but Temple dashed the Hens hopes as Settles netted her team-high ninth goal of the season as she took a crossing pass from Shearer and tipped-in a waist high shot right in front of the cage past Diana.
Delaware had the chance to tie things one last time but Millen stopped a hard shot by Amanda McCardell off a penalty corner with only 1:48 left to play to preserve the Owl victory.
